THE PIECES TO SKIMP & SPLURGE ON IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

Truth be told, I’ve always been a bargain hunter. I’m certain my first words as a baby were: “Is that on sale?”

Although while I do love the thrill of securing budget decor, I’m also a big advocate for investment pieces: Items you should splurge on for your home because you’re going to have them for years and years.

When it comes to decorating your living room, the inevitable conundrum will arise – where exactly do you spend your hard-earned cash, and where can you skimp without sacrificing on style and quality?

Wonder no more, because I’m going to clear it all up for you here.

Your couch: SPLURGE!

Your couch is the item you’ll sit on the most at home. You’ll probably spend more time on it than you do in bed (or is that just me?).

With this in mind, you need to really invest in this piece. Avoid all temptation to go into a budget store and visit higher-end haunts instead.

Spending roughly AUD5,000 for a couch is about right, in my humble opinion. Even if you own and use it for just five years, that’s only one grand a year for all of the comfortable nights you’ll spend on this bad boy.

I wouldn’t even look at a couch that’s less than AUD1,000. Trust me, you won’t have it long. Or, you will have it for long, and it’ll just be exceptionally uncomfortable.

The coffee table: SKIMP!

Any item that’s not built for comfort, or doesn’t have to hold a lot of weight, can be skimped on. A coffee table is a perfect example of an item you can pick up for a steal.

When it comes to a coffee table, go wild in a discount store. Just keep an eye on the finish of the table top (if it’s made from cheap melamine it could scratch easily).

TV and stereo system: SPLURGE!

I’m in no way excited by technical things – they cost so much and yet never look that pretty. But there’s no denying that a killer TV and stereo system is a godsend for a living room.

So get that whopper television, have those woofing speakers, and make your living room your own private cinema at home. You deserve it.

Entertainment unit: SKIMP!

You know how a model could wear a potato sack and still look amazing? That’s because your eye is drawn to their beautiful mug, not what’s beneath it. It’s the same concept with your entertainment unit. Most of the time you’ll be looking at your TV, not what it’s sitting on.

As long as it’s sturdy and your TV won’t fall off it, it’s budget all the way for this piece of furniture.

Artworks: SPLURGE!

When it comes to art, you have to go big, and you have to invest.

I’m not saying you should fork out 10 grand for an original canvas, but it’s great to support a local artist and get a sizeable piece for your room that takes up some significant wall space. There’s nothing better than a good-quality conversation piece artwork. So please don’t skimp here.

Floor rugs: Choose your own adventure

I don’t like to spend thousands on a floor rug. If you have pets or children, it’s inevitable that you’ll probably be battling spills and stains around the clock

That said, cheap rugs feel horrible underfoot. I’d let your tootsies do the talking here and find one that feels nice on your feet and works within your budget.

By no means would I go high-end here, but, if you can, try to avoid rugs under AUD100 that’ll give you carpet burn for days should you ever kneel on them.